Orchid Information - Genus Bulbophyllum section Brachyantha

Bulbophyllum sect. Brachyantha Rchb.f., Ann. Bot. Syst. 6 (1861) 264. Type species: Bulbophyllum umbellatum Lindl.

Synonyms:

• Genus Bolbophyllopsis Rchb.f., Bot. Zeitung 10 (1852) 933
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Biflorae Garay, Hamer & Siegerist, Nordic J. Bot. 14 (1994) 627.
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Elatae Garay, Hamer & Siegerist, Nordic J. Bot. 14 (1994) 627.
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Macrostylidia Garay, Hamer & Siegerist, Nordic J. Bot. 14 (1994) 626. .
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Microbulbon Garay, Hamer & Siegerist, Nordic J. Bot. 14 (1994) 627.
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Umbellata (Rchb.f) Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. Pl. (1883) 503
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Wallichii Garay, Hamer & Siegerist, Nordic J. Bot. 14 (1994) 627.

Small to medium sized epiphytes (large: Bulbophyllum graveolens). Roots sprouting below the pseudobulbs, spreading, glabrous to somewhat papuillose-verrucate, locally hirsute. Rhizomes creeping; rhizome scales (rather) thin, surface glabrous to colliculate, caducous, but veins persistent as fibres. Pseudobulbs distinct compared to the size of the plant, 1-leafed, with shoots sprouting at its basal node, free. Leaves persistent, rather thick. Inflorescences sprouting from the basal node of the pseudobulb or from nodes near the pseudobulb, single, usually a 2—many-flowered, (approx.) subumbellate raceme, with flowers spirally arranged; peduncle shorter than the pseudobulbs to as long as the leaves; peduncle scales 3—5, with the upper ones up to above half-way the peduncle; rachis if present somewhat thickened or not. Flowers usually approx. open simultaneously per inflorescence; floral bracts not amplexicaul. Pedicel with the basal node up to 3 x the diameter of the pedicel above the floral bract attachment, distinctly longer than the ovary (pedicel with the basal node often level with the floral bract attachment in the uppermost flowers of racemose inflorescences). Lateral sepals 1.2—6 X as long as the median sepal, elliptic or oblong to ovate to triangular, 0.3—6 cm long, glabrous; thin to rather thick, twisted with the upper margins towards each other close to the base, free or the lateral sepals (partly) adherent to adnate along the upper margin, sometimes also (partly) along the lower margin; margins entire; apex truncate to long acuminate (with a thickened tip) or caudate (with a thickened tip); 3—11-nerved, surface glabrous, or (partly) papillose-verruculate abaxially. Petals elliptic or oblong to (ob-)ovate to triangular, 0.22—1.2 cm long, glabrous, thin to rather thick; margins entire; apex emarginate (and caudate) to long acuminate or caudate; 3—5-nerved, surface glabrous. Lip mobile on a thin ligament, without auricles, undivided, 0.15—0.8 cm long, ovate to triangular, sometimes slightly constricted approx. half-way, glabrous; margins entire; adaxially without ridges or with two inconspicuous to very distinct, obtuse ridges either running parallel or in approx. flexural position, surface glabrous (keels on adaxial side also papillose to hirsute in Bulbophyllum graveolens). Column with rostellum front receding in between the stelidia tips; stigma large, without or with keels inside (two on the front wall, a single on the back wall), proximally not protruding; column foot tapering towards its top or not, without lateral lobes next to the ligament, or with two patent, rounded teeth, free part rather long; stelidia more than 1/2 of the length of the column or shorter, deltoid to triangular to subulate, entire to erose along the upper margin, often with an inconspicuous to distinct, patent, deltoid to triangular, rounded to acute tooth or wing along the lower margin; anther with a (rather) low, obtuse crest, in front (distinctly) concave, front margin somewhat drawn out or not; pollinia 4, the inner ones distinctly more than half as long as the outer ones, with or without a single stipes.

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